L-Phenylalanine

Schulze and Barbieri discovered phenylalanine in seedlings of Lupinus Zuteus in 1879, before it was found among the products of hydrolysis of proteins. In 1960s, L-phenylalanine was successfully produced by fermentation in a Japanese company and was put into large scale production.

IUPAC Name: (2S)-2-Amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid
Symbol: Phe or F
Molecular Weight: 165.18914 g/mol
Molecular Formula: C9H11NO2
Canonical SMILES: C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(C(=O)O)N
Isomeric SMILES: C1=CC=C(C=C1)C[C@@H](C(=O)O)N
InChIKey Identifier: COLNVLDHVKWLRT-KMJKUPBBDK
CAS Number: 63-91-2
MDL Number: MFCD00064227
Melting point: 270-275 °C
Solubility in water: 27 g/L (20 °C)
2D Molfile: Get the molfile
3D PDB file: Get the PDB file
Other names: L-beta-Phenylalanine; L-2-Amino-3-phenylpropionic acid; (S)-alpha-Amino-benzenepropanoic acid; (S)-alpha-Aminohydrocinnamic acid; (S)-alpha-Amino-beta-phenylpropionic acid; Phenyl-alpha-alanine; (-)-beta-Phenylalanine; beta-Phenyl-alpha-alanine; beta-Phenyl-L-alanine; 3-Phenyl-L-alanine; L-beta-Phenylalanine; (S)-Phenylalanine; 3-Phenylalanine

Load 3D Structure of Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine is a precursor of L-tyrosine and together they lead to the formation of adrenaline which is converted into a brain chemical which transmits nerve impulses and is used to manufacture noradrenaline which in turn promotes mental alertness, memory, elevates mood and suppresses the appetite.

Go to Amino Acids index page.